Photographer Jonathan Mannion Reveals the Original Photo Used for ‘The Black Album’ Cover

The 15th anniversary of Jay-Z’s The Black Album was celebrated across Hip-Hop this past week. With the discussion dominating social media, photographer Jonathan Mannion revealed the original photo for the cover of the album.

Many viewed the all-black cover of the album as the ending to a legendary career and for years it appeared Hov was in a t-shirt and a fitted. Mannion has blown everyone’s mind by showing the picture actually edited to look that way and the “Change Clothes” rapper was actually in a New York Jets jersey.

Mannion would detail the picture was a leftover from The Blueprint photoshoot in 2001. Check out the full image and the edit that we all came to love together below.